Accidents
High-Speed Acura Collision Results in Tragedy on Queen Mary Highway
On ST. CROIX’s prominent Queen Mary Highway, a grievous traffic incident unfolded close to the renowned Whim Museum around 7:01 p.m. this past Tuesday. The V.I. Police Department has officially verified the occurrence to USVI News, confirming the tragic loss of a male individual, while another escaped with injuries, thankfully not life-threatening.
Responding immediately to the scene, the officers from the VIPD’s Wilbur Francis command acted upon the information relayed by the 911 Emergency Call Center. A detailed assessment of the situation painted a grim picture: an eastbound black Acura, seemingly racing at a swift pace while attempting to overtake other vehicles, devastatingly clashed head-first with a Ford Escape coming from the opposite direction.
The unfortunate aftermath of this high-speed encounter was the passing of the Acura’s driver due to severe injuries from the collision. As of Wednesday morning, the VIPD is engrossed in efforts to ascertain the identity of the deceased.
On a slightly more hopeful note, the individual piloting the Ford Escape is believed to have sustained only minor injuries, which are not expected to threaten life.
This harrowing event now sits under the scrutiny of the VIPD’s Traffic Investigation Bureau. With the case currently in the phase of active investigation, the authorities are casting a wide net to gather insights. They are extending a fervent appeal to any potential witnesses or those privy to valuable information to step forth, helping illuminate the details and sequence of events that culminated in this heart-wrenching tragedy.
Accidents
Tragic Early Morning Crash on Weymouth Rhymer Highway Claims Two Lives
A tragic traffic accident on Weymouth Rhymer Highway in St. Thomas led to the untimely deaths of a man and a woman early Tuesday morning. The V.I. Police Department reported that the accident happened at about 12:52 a.m., near the stretch between New Herrnhut Road and Donoe Road.
The driver, 28-year-old Vernon Ferris, was navigating a silver Acura TSX eastward when he apparently lost control of the vehicle. The car veered off the road, ascended an embankment on the eastbound shoulder, and violently collided with a tree on its right side.
Vernon Ferris and his passenger, 29-year-old Tiniesha Smith, were both killed on impact. The authorities have since informed their families of the tragic event.
Investigations into the precise cause of the crash are currently underway by the VIPD.
Accidents
Massachusetts Visitor Tragically Drowns at Trunk Bay, St. John
A day of relaxation at Trunk Bay Beach on the picturesque island of St. John ended in sorrow this Monday with the untimely passing of Chris Laslocky, a 49-year-old visitor from Massachusetts.
Authorities from the V.I. Police Department have confirmed that Laslocky encountered difficulties while swimming a significant distance from shore around 12:30 p.m. Despite managing to reach a nearby outcrop, he tragically became unresponsive after struggling and ingesting water.
Efforts by onlookers to provide immediate assistance were in vain, as Laslocky was pronounced dead following their unsuccessful attempts to revive him. The community mourns the loss of a life too soon taken and extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Laslocky during this profoundly difficult time.
Accidents
St. Thomas Resident Faces Court Following New Year’s Day Hit-and-Run
In a recent court appearance, a St. Thomas resident was charged with operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license in connection to a hit-and-run incident on Veterans Drive on January 1, which resulted in a pedestrian being critically injured and left in a coma.
Durray Primus, the accused, voluntarily came forward to the Richard Callwood Command Traffic Investigation Bureau to provide his account of the events following the incident on New Year’s Day. Authorities were able to confirm Primus as the driver of a red Nissan Juke, which was captured on surveillance footage hitting a pedestrian in the troubling episode.
Investigations further uncovered that Primus was driving without a valid license at the time of the accident. His previous license had expired in 2022, and due to a restriction imposed by the Department of Justice, he was unable to obtain a renewal.
The surveillance video reviewed by the police showed the victim, dressed in dark attire and obscured by a dark jacket, attempting to cross the highway without ensuring it was safe from oncoming traffic. The pedestrian ventured into the path of Primus’s vehicle in the right eastbound lane, where traffic signals were green. Despite the pedestrian’s attempt to hurry across, the collision was inevitable, leading to severe injuries.
After the incident, the footage showed Primus momentarily opening the driver’s door and observing the injured pedestrian before leaving the scene without offering assistance.
Although the initial review of the incident suggested that Primus’s actions leading up to the collision were not deemed negligent, he faces charges for driving without a valid license and for fleeing the scene of an accident. Following these charges, Primus was detained to await further legal proceedings.
During his recent court appearance, Magistrate Simone VanHolten-Turnbull decided that Primus could be released on a $7500 unsecured bond. Conditions of his release include bi-weekly in-person check-ins at the probation office and adherence to standard bail conditions set by the court.
Primus is scheduled for a subsequent court appearance on February 23, where the case will continue to unfold.
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